Dick Allen

FEATURED ARTICLES ABOUT DICK ALLEN - PAGE 4

A South Side filmmaker has invited former White Sox superstar Dick Allen to town next week, hoping that Allen and the Sox brass can finally smooth over differences that have been simmering for years. Ziff Sistrunk, who said he is putting together a documentary about Allen, also hopes the move could lead to the Sox inviting Allen to throw out the first pitch before the team's second playoff game Oct. 4. "Let's just go on and do it and bury the hatchet," said Sistrunk, 43. "It's time for the White Sox and baseball to give him his due. There are so many people that loved Dick Allen."

What could develop into a significant scandal appears to be brewing at the top level of the Major League Umpires Association. The umps convene in Tampa next weekend for their annual meeting, and the sparks are likely to fly in regard to the possibility of dismissing Richie Phillips, the Philadelphia attorney who serves as their chief negotiator and general counsel. It has been learned that the MLUA is being investigated by three federal bodies: The U.S. Dept. of Labor, the Internal Revenue Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

A 20-year-old country boy in the big city, Rich Gossage was as lost as a man can be when he arrived in Chicago in 1972 to start his major-league career. But it didn't take him long to find a friend and baseball advisor, and in one of the most unlikely of packages. Dick Allen was a four-time All-Star whose reputation as an unreliable headache obscured his ability to hit for power and drive in runs. He had fought with teammates, failed to show up at the ballpark and was well into the migratory phase of his career.

GLENDALE, Ariz. - Adam Dunn might not be considered a project for the rest of spring training after hitting two home runs Thursday against Royals left-hander Bruce Chen. The White Sox's slugger, who batted only .159 with 177 strikeouts and 11 home runs in 2011, said he feels comfortable enough that he no longer is isolating each at-bat with a specific plan. "If (the pitch) is there, swing," said Dunn, who had been working deep counts this spring. "If it's not (a strike)

RHP Jonathan Pettibone allowed five hits and one run over 6 1/3 innings Friday to run his record to 2-0. The rookie struck out three and did not walk a batter. He has issued just two walks over 16 2/3 innings through his first three major league starts. 1B Ryan Howard went 2-for-3 with his second home run in as many days Friday. He now has four of his five homers, and 12 of his 18 RBIs in his last nine games. Howard is also hitting .342 over his last 19 games, raising his average to .288.

Lawrence Taylor of the New York Giants will host the fourth annual Super Bowl Party at Walter Payton's ThirtyFour's (1850 E. Golf Rd.) in Schaumburg, starting at 3:30 p.m. Sunday. Mike Conklin of the Chicago Tribune also will be on hand. The $30 admission includes a dinner buffet by reservation only at 708-605-8994. By the way, Sweetness himself will be at the real Super Bowl party in Minneapolis, Minn. Former Chicago Cub Gary Matthews will play celebrity bartender Sunday at J. Randolph's sports bar (155 N. Michigan Ave.)

Walt Hriniak saw it coming. He knew Robin Ventura would hit home runs before Ventura knew it. "I told him last year, before his career is over he`d hit 15-20," Hriniak said Tuesday. "When he had two." Ventura finished with five last year. This year, he's well on his way to 15-20. "He's in a real good groove right now," Hriniak said. "He's going at the ball real good, watching the ball, using the whole field. "The home runs are great, but he's done more than just hit home runs.

The last White Sox player to win the American League home run title was Dick Allen, who hit 37 in 1972. First baseman Paul Konerko is tied with Boston's Manny Ramirez for second place with 28 homers apiece. The Yankees' Alex Rodriguez took over the league lead by hitting his 29th in the bottom of the 11th to beat Oakland on Wednesday night. Konerko was rather startled to learn the Sox have not had a home run leader in his lifetime. "I was born in 1976," he said. Konerko also said he's uncomfortable talking about individual goals.

Describing himself as "totally humbled," former Philadelphia Phillies slugger Mike Schmidt tried to pull Pete Rose with him into baseball's Hall of Fame here Sunday. In his acceptance speech, Schmidt said, "I hope someday Pete Rose will be standing right here." A record crowd estimated at 22,000 witnessed the annual two-hour induction ceremony. Also enshrined were Richie Ashburn, former star center-fielder with the Philadelphia Phillies, long-ago pitchers Vic Willis and Leon Day and Chicago's William A. Hulbert, founder of the National League and president of the 19th-Century Chicago White Stockings, now known as the Cubs.